[Archived] Sam's January Targets

[den]

Benni was a myth - one good season, followed by season littered by the odd bit of quality, but mostly average.

17 goals during last season - and half of this. The thing is that Benni could well have bagged another half a dozen or more from now until the end of the season, substitute or not.

Yes Benni had to go, but to say the goals that he scored don't need replacing is wrong - IMO.

[Bobby G]

Benni did JACK ALL in the wigan home game though....he didn't even play!

I meant the away game against them. Then got an assist against Sunderland in the 2-2 draw. Figure in two assists against Fulham too and he has had a hand in 4 goals out of 5 in the final 3 games he started for the club.

[LeChuck]

Ilan signed for West Ham today.

Balls...managed to miss that on the BBC ticker. Why do West Ham need all these temporary strikers when Carlton Cole has just returned.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

However, that doesnt change the reality that we lost someone who WAS making an impact during our matches this season. Cant say that about too many of our players. Its all about this season, as Im not arguing about him being lazy, fat, past his best, or whatever else.

Dunn, Kalanic, Pedersen & Ollson have all made an impact at some stage of this season.

Footie is all about opinions - my opinion probably differs to a lot of the BBE - but for a long time I have wondered whether Benni's moments of quality were worth the team carrying him. For every goal he scored or contributed towards - how many have we conceded as a result of his carelessness or lack of effort ? I will concede he was probably the most natural goal scorer we had at the club - but I had noticed over the last season or so that his desire to get into goal scoring situations had waned. The Roberts miss at the weekend summed it up for me - Benni in that position would have scored - but the truth is he wouldn't have been in that position as it was made by Roberts power and pace.

[LeChuck]

17 goals during his last season - and half of this. The thing is that Benni could well have bagged another half a dozen or more from now until the end of the season, substitute or not.

Yes Benni had to go, but to say the goals that he scored don't need replacing is wrong - IMO.

Of course the goals need replacing, but we have the players.

Dunn was top scorer for a while playing in that position, hopefully he's back soon. Pedersen has hit three goals from that position recently and nearly scored against West Ham, so it looks like he can score from there too. We've got Basturk to try there as well.

McCarthy has only got four this season, and wasn't much better last season (taking away the penalties).

[mellison24]

I meant the away game against them. Then got an assist against Sunderland in the 2-2 draw. Figure in two assists against Fulham too and he has had a hand in 4 goals out of 5 in the final 3 games he started for the club.

Indeed, he can be a good influence in terms of results....but look at what happened last time his head was turned. I just about got sick of him this time around. Good riddance to a potential cancer to the squad morale.

[DeadlyDirk]

Well here's my take on today, sorry I'm a bit behind everyone, couldn't move in here what with all the toys being thrown out of the pram, I thought there was a car boot sale for a moment.

So Benni's gone? Good, he didn't want to be here so get rid, what was the other option? Keep him and have him being even unhappier than normal?

Why didn't we have anyone lined up? Well maybe we did at some point but had to wait for the Benni deal to be confirmed before we had any cash, not all players like to be kept waiting on the off chance that we might buy them if we get the funds. Kalinic to Pompey anyone? Odds are any decent players we were watching had concrete offers in before us.

So we are a bit short on strikers? A bit yes but like it or not BFS is going to play one up front for the majority of games, we have the in form Kalinic who looks set for the role with the likes of Franco and Roberts as backup.

Thankfully we didn't sign any of those desperation targets in Dindane and Barndoori, I honestly believe in desperate circumstances Samba could do a good a job as them up there.

The targets were not there for the money we had, there is no point buying someonw for the sake of it, money should only be spent if it improves the squad. The money will either be in the summer or it'll be used for more important matters like ensuring the long term future of the club.

The wage bill has been trimmed, a bad apple is gone and we missed out on some poor players, good news day as far as I'm concerned.

I have no doubt Benni will have a good 6 months at West Ham but with his attitude I highly doubt he was going to do a lot for us, remember he missed several training sessions, what sort of message would it have sent out to other players if he got away with it. To recoup almost everything we paid for him given his age and desire I think we've done okay.

Besides some of the team's below us are terrible, this is no time for panic.

[den]

McCarthy has only got four this season, and wasn't much better last season (taking away the penalties).

17 goals which ever way we look at it.

I'm gonna leave it here, but at the end of the day [ hate that saying ], we have weakened the striking department. That's gross bad management.

[The Rover of Finland]

All these West Ham striker buys reminds me of last time they were panicking. Then they even bought Nigel Quashie for £3,5M. What an idiots! Zola got money and signed three worse strikers than already had. He will lose the job before end of March.

[Eddie]

Quite frankly, if we don't get MGP and Hoilett to re-sign then I don't see how we stand a chance in the summer. That would mean we would have to bring in a left midfielder, another wide man, a striker and add some talent to the midfield...all with a budget of?

Have a feeling that we have made a very bad mistake here.

[mellison24]

17 goals which ever way we look at it.

I'm gonna leave it here, but at the end of the day [ hate that saying ], we have weakened the striking department. That's gross bad management.

he got rid of a potentially awful cause of dressing room unrest. That's EXCELLENT management. We are Rovers. Not Benni fecking McCarthy FC.

[roverich]

Yes. By a mile imo. I'll just highlight that it's IMO. You may disagree, but I think we are stronger if only to have finally got rid of a supposedly bad influence.

Wow that is opinionated... you are basing your opinion on a supposition !!

Despite Sam previously saying Benni would only be allowed to leave if a replacement could be lined up we now find ourselves in a situation where we are one striker down. I wouldn't mind too much but he's the only striker we had with any class. Add to that none of our strikers are capable of scoring - at least with Benni he was capable of producing a little something and creating an opportunity even if he was fat and lazy.

Are we meant to be pleased that we "deserved to win" against West Ham? The fact that we infact failed to score at all only reiterates my point that selling a striker and failing to replace him was a bloody bad move!

[den]

he got rid of a potentially awful cause of dressing room unrest. That's EXCELLENT management. We are Rovers. Not Benni fecking McCarthy FC.

No-one has said we should have kept Benni. Keep up Mellison.

[Bobby G]

Quite frankly, if we don't get MGP and Hoilett to re-sign then I don't see how we stand a chance in the summer. That would mean we would have to bring in a left midfielder, another wide man, a striker and add some talent to the midfield...all with a budget of?

Have a feeling that we have made a very bad mistake here.

I agree about the positions that we will need to replace, but I dont think any single "mistake" has led to this situation. Its a result of a variety of circumstances. That means that the summer is a very very big summer. It wont be about improving our first team, it will be about replacing players who have left with no revenue. How much would a decent replacement in each position cost?

[mellison24]

No-one has said we should have kept Benni. Keep up Mellison.

I took you saying that we have weakened the squad and your quoting of his goal stats to mean we should have kept McCarthy. My bad. but I'd guess we're better with NONE of Benni, DingDong, Biriyani or Beattie.

[Wing Wizard Windy Miller]

Quite frankly, if we don't get MGP and Hoilett to re-sign then I don't see how we stand a chance in the summer. That would mean we would have to bring in a left midfielder, another wide man, a striker and add some talent to the midfield...all with a budget of?

Have a feeling that we have made a very bad mistake here.

Make that 2 strikers!

Who will we sell to pay for this Summer's signings...mmmm

[Bobby G]

Andrews.

[mellison24]

Andrews.

and one of (or both) Grella or Reid.

[roverich]

Andrews.

HaHa!!

Only one mug stupid enough to pay anything for him! Mind you, maybe he wants him back? If we remind him what a quality midfielder he is, how good he is at picking out a pass, and the number of goals he scores from outside the box... maybe!

[Ozz]

Sam must have a lot of faith in Kalinic, with not replacing him. Big gamble, as we have always had one Top striker (IE regular goal scorer in the team since about 2004 ish when we had Dickov and Kuqi.

[roverich]

Sam must have a lot of faith in Kalinic, with not replacing him. Big gamble, as we have always had one Top striker (IE regular goal scorer in the team since about 2004 ish when we had Dickov and Kuqi.

Is the free transfer window still open... maybe Dickov is Sam's ace up the sleeve

[mellison24]

Is the free transfer window still open... maybe Dickov is Sam's ace up the sleeve

Or Nonda?

[den]

McCarthy has only got four this season, and wasn't much better last season (taking away the penalties).

Tell you what LeChuck, I was shocked when I checked out Bennis goalscoring over the past season and a half. I would never have guessed he'd scored that many.

[Bobby G]

That's 17 goals in all competition over 18 months den, or?

[T4E]

How many of them were pens then?